Marvel: God of Spotlight, The Homelander

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Homelander tapped the holographic screen on the table, playing a video.

Quill, wearing headphones, was gyrating his hips wildly at passersby next to a fountain in New York’s Times Square, dancing an awkward 80s disco, while shouting, "Vote for Star-Lord, the coolest man in the Milky Way Galaxy!"

Passersby avoided him, looking at him as if he were an idiot.

"Look at this, Quill." Homelander pointed at the screen. "Do you think this is cool?"

Quill felt a bit embarrassed under Homelander’s gaze, but still tried to retort: "I... I was just closing the distance with the public! I was showing off my personal charm!"

"Your charm earned you the nickname ’Idiot Quill’." Homelander interrupted him. "You’re making Vought International lose face along with you."

"Your popularity rating didn’t even make the top 100. Why on Earth would I go against the will of all humanity to let you join the team, Star-Lord?"

"But I..." Quill opened his mouth, but found he had no way to refute it.

"Listen, Peter." Homelander tapped his fingertips on the desk and said, "Starting today, follow Captain Rogers and learn how to be a qualified hero."

"If you’re no longer an idiot by the time we depart, I’ll consider letting you join the team as a substitute at the gladiator site."

"A substitute?" Star-Lord’s eyes widened. "Me? Peter Quill? The leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, acting as a substitute?"

"Either be a substitute, or get out of Vought right now." Homelander couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him and issued an ultimatum.

Homelander wasn’t joking.

He had only brought in the volatile element that was Star-Lord because he valued the "Guardians of the Galaxy" brand he carried.

Bringing him along would at least bring in some extra popularity value from every corner of the Universe.

But if he continued to be this silly, greasy, and flaky, it would be better to just let him go, so he wouldn’t drag Vought’s reputation down.

Quill steadied himself; he could see that Homelander was serious.

"Fine, boss. You’re the boss."

He immediately raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Substitute it is, no problem at all. Bench players are an important piece of the puzzle for a championship team, right? I will keenly analyze the enemy’s weaknesses from the sidelines."

Homelander snorted coldly and looked away.

Quill gave a dry laugh, hunched his neck, and retreated from the office.

...

Over the next week, Homelander entered a three-shift, high-efficiency popularity value harvesting mode.

His time was precisely managed.

Every morning.

After sobering up, Jessica would always flash into his room right on time.

She was swift and decisive, never wasting words; once the door closed, a contest would begin.

Thanks to the 200% ability enhancement from last time, Homelander was like a tireless perpetual motion machine.

No matter how much resilience Jessica unleashed, Homelander could easily suppress her completely.

Each time it ended, Jessica couldn’t even lift a finger, only panting heavily and providing popularity value again and again with a gaze filled with desire.

In the afternoon.

In the training room, Homelander would personally guide Nebula in combat.

It was called pre-battle training, but behind the scenes, it was all about emotional cultivation.

Nebula’s cold and isolated heart melted rapidly under the care Homelander deliberately cultivated.

She didn’t know how to say sweet nothings, but the way she looked at Homelander was already like melting caramel.

popularity value was output steadily.

In the evening.

Whenever night fell, Homelander would appear at Skye’s apartment on time.

Skye would prepare a delicious dinner for Homelander.

She completely showed her softest side in front of Homelander.

Homelander’s hugs and companionship made her feel a warmth of family she had never experienced before.

When passion flared, the Quake ability worked wonders on another battlefield, allowing Homelander to experience a whole new kind of pleasure.

A double harvest of popularity and experience.

A week passed in a flash.

Homelander finally received the gladiator invitation from the Grandmaster, which also included the coordinates for Knowhere.

Homelander smiled slightly and issued a command: "Skynet!"

"I am here, sir."

"Notify everyone, it’s time to depart..."

...

One day later.

Manhattan, Central Park.

Vought International held a grand departure ceremony here.

The scene was packed with people, filling every patch of grass.

They held up signs and chanted the heroes’ names.

The roar was deafening, and countless ribbons danced in the air.

Security personnel pulled up long cordon lines, blocking the fanatical crowd on both sides of the passage.

Countless hummingbird drones circled in the sky, and broadcast vans from major television stations filled the surrounding streets.

In the center of the venue, a massive, streamlined spaceship, the "Vought Expedition," was docked.

This was an interstellar warship that Tony had rushed to build using Lunar Titanium Alloy, combining cutting-edge technology with rune technology; according to him, it could even transform.

At this moment, Skye hurried through the crowd to Homelander’s side.

"Anthony, take me with you. Even if I’m not a contestant, I can help you as an assistant."

"I think you need someone like that." Skye looked at Homelander hopefully.

"That is absolutely out of the question, Agent Johnson."

Before Homelander could open his mouth, Jessica strode over from the side and blocked Skye.

"After Homelander and the others leave, Earth’s defense line will be at its weakest. I need you, Skye. Your ability is an indispensable strategic deterrent."

Skye frowned, not knowing how to retort.

"You are a mature Agent, Skye. You don’t think serving tea and water to Anthony is more important than protecting his Earth, do you?"

Jessica recited the lines Ashley had written for her with righteous indignation.

Skye gritted her teeth. She, of course, knew what that bitch Jessica was plotting—it was nothing more than wanting to cut off her chance to go to space and be alone with Homelander.

But with Jessica slapping the big hat of "protecting Earth" on her, Skye had no way to argue back.

If she continued to pester, it would only make Homelander think she was unreasonable and didn’t care about the bigger picture.

"Understood, Acting President Jones." Skye forced a reluctant smile. "I will guard his Earth well for Anthony."

Although she was unwilling, in order not to ruin her image in Homelander’s heart, she had to agree reluctantly.

Jessica smiled with satisfaction and silently made a victory gesture.

Nebula, standing a few steps away, took in the whole scene.

Her face was cold, and her eyes were calm and waveless.

But the hands hidden behind her back, fidgeting with her fingers, betrayed her inner joy.

As boarding time approached, the heroes preparing to board began their final farewells.

"Listen, Pepper." Tony placed his hands on Pepper’s arms, his tone relaxed. "If I don’t come back, don’t sell my vintage sports cars."

Pepper glared at him irritably.

"If you don’t come back, Tony, I’ll donate all those cars to a monster truck rally and let them crush them into scrap metal."